Current Events

August 25, 2019 | Freedom of Speech

Blasphemy laws are quietly vanishing in liberal democracies

UNTIL LAST month, a Greek citizen could be jailed for up to two years for “publicly and maliciously blaspheming” against God, the Greek Orthodox church or “any other permitted religion”. In one of its last acts before losing an election, a leftist government quietly dropped this article as part of a revision of the criminal code...

Federal judge rules in favor of A-State in free speech case

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT) - The 1st Amendment and in particular, free speech, is not absolute, with rules created by state and local governments, making the exercise of free speech not absolute in certain cases, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

United States District Judge J. Leon Holmes ruled in favor of Arkansas State University on the claims of Turning Point USA at Arkansas State University and Ashlyn Hoggard, dismissing the complaint of the group and Hoggard with prejudice...

White House proposal would have FCC and FTC police alleged social media censorship

A draft executive order from the White House could put the Federal Communications Commission in charge of shaping how Facebook (FB), Twitter (TWTR) and other large tech companies curate what appears on their websites, according to multiple people familiar with the matter...

University of Florida pays $66K to settle free speech case

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - The University of Florida has agreed to pay $66,000 and make some policy changes to settle a federal lawsuit brought by a conservative student organization.

Young Americans for Freedom claimed in the lawsuit filed in December that the school violated its members' free speech rights by denying equal access to student activity funds to pay for guest speakers...

Heavy police presence in Washington for “Demand Free Speech” rally

Washington — Police in Washington, D.C., were on alert Saturday for possible clashes between right-wing groups and counter-protesters holding demonstrations in the nation's capital, but the "Demand Free Speech" rally remained largely peaceful. There were no major incidents reported at the protests in Freedom Plaza, just a few blocks from the White House...

Controversial comedian Ricky Gervais took a shot at the recent trend of left-leaning activists throwing milkshakes at conservative politicians, pundits and protesters.A growing viral trend in the U.S. and U.K. has seen political figures get milkshakes thrown on or at them by liberal activists who disagree with the target’s views. Brexit leader Nigel Farage was the target of a milkshaking incident in May. Antifa protesters clashed with Proud Boys in Portland, Ore. over the weekend when some of the demonstrators threw milkshakes said to be mixed with quick-drying cement, raw eggs and pepper spray...

In a win for advocates of free speech, the Supreme Court has struck down a ban on trademarking words and symbols that are "immoral" or "scandalous." The 6-3 decision is also a victory for those seeking trademark protection for profane and even racist brand names.The case was brought by clothing designer Erik Brunetti, who sought to trademark the phrase FUCT. The decision paves the way for him to get his brand trademarked...

Alabama Prohibits “Free Speech Zones” at Universities

Alabama's public colleges and universities will be required to adopt speech policies that allow students to freely express their thoughts throughout the campus under a new law signed by Republican Gov. Kay Ivey last week.Under the measure, universities are prohibited from establishing "free speech zones," or designated areas where students are allowed to express their opinions about controversial issues. Such demonstrations often must be approved by campus officials ahead of time...

Alabama legislators passed a bill that set expectations and restrictions for how college campuses handle free speech.The passing of the bill came about two months after President Donald Trump invited several students who claimed they were censored at their campuses to the White House. After hearing their stories, Trump signed an executive order requiring colleges to promote free speech or risk losing federal research funds...

Supreme Court limits free speech claim in arrests

Washington (CNN) The Supreme Court on Tuesday said an individual cannot make a claim that he was arrested in retaliation for exercising his free speech if police had probable cause for his arrest.The ruling is a victory for law enforcement, which argued in favor of a bright line rule that officers could follow that would also defeat possible frivolous claims from defendants objecting to their arrest...

New Zealand’s Ardern Calls On Social Media Companies To Stem Terrorist Content

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she was one of many who saw horrifying footage of the March 15 terrorist attacks in Christchurch when the video of it started auto-playing in her social media feed. In the wake of the violence in which 51 people were killed, New Zealand immediately imposed new gun control measures and introduced legislation that would ban most semi-automatic firearms...

MIAMI (AP) — A Florida man who was jailed after refusing to remove what authorities called an obscene sticker from his vehicle's window said Tuesday that he is fighting the charges and will defend his constitutional right to free speech.Dillon Shane Webb, 23, was arrested Sunday and charged with misdemeanor counts of violating Florida's obscenity law and resisting an officer without violence, a Columbia County Sheriff's Office report said...

Fired state worker sues Kentucky governor over free speech

FRANKFORT, Ky. — An ex-state employee is suing Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, claiming she was fired due to her ties to a group that supported teacher sickouts that shut down school districts to protest GOP-backed legislation.The federal suit filed Wednesday alleges Charissa “Chris” Cooke’s First Amendment rights were violated...

Suit targets California’s ban on ‘Come on You Whites’ plate

LOS ANGELES — A soccer fan says in a lawsuit that the California Department of Motor Vehicles violated his First Amendment rights by rejecting a personalized license plate he said would celebrate his favorite team, but which the DMV determined might be deemed offensive.Jon Kotler applied for a plate that would read “COYW,” an acronym of the slogan “Come on You Whites” used by supporters of London-based Fulham Football Club, according to the federal lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Fulham players wear white jerseys...

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg calls for more government regulations in op-ed

It's rare that CEOs will call for more regulations from the government instead of fewer, but Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg admitted the social media giant could use some more oversight.Zuckerberg openly lobbied for regulation in four areas in a new opinion piece for The Washington Post published Saturday...

Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday signed a bill requiring state universities and community colleges to adopt policies respecting "free speech" on campus, a controversial measure that Democrats said could allow discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community."I am proud to sign this legislation into law which protects free speech on college campuses," Reynolds said in a news release. "Our public universities and community colleges should always be places where ideas can be debated, built upon, and creative thoughts flourish without limits."...

Trump to Sign Executive Order Protecting Campus Free Speech

President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order Thursday afternoon that would withhold federal funding from public and private colleges and universities that do not protect free speech on campuses.As explained by a White House senior official, in order to qualify for federal research dollars, public colleges and universities would have to certify that they are complying with the First Amendment, and private colleges and universities would have to certify that they are in compliance with their own policies...

Bill Insures Freedom Of Speech On Campus

Public postsecondary institutions in Kentucky would be required to adopt freedom of speech policies for students and faculty under legislation passed by the General Assembly. The measure was sent on to the governor for his signature. Senator Will Schroder of Wilder says it provides free expression in most open areas on campus. “The Supreme Court has said that open areas to the public should be open for free speech to everyone, so students should be allowed, as long as they’re not interfering with classes or the learning environment...

Trump vows executive order to protect campus free speech, but critics, including U. of C. president, call it a dangerous move

President Donald Trump’s proposed executive order to protect free speech on college campuses follows a growing chorus of complaints from conservatives that the nation’s universities are attempting to silence their voices when they’re heckled, disinvited or their presence on campus is otherwise discouraged.

Critics — including University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer, a frequent champion of free speech — counter that it would give federal officials dangerous authority to interfere in campus speech issues...

Kinzinger’s office says border remarks are freedom of speech

MADISON, Wis. — A spokeswoman for Congressman Adam Kinzinger says he shouldn’t face discipline for criticizing Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ decision to withdraw troops from the U.S. southern border. Kinzinger, R-Channahon, is a pilot and holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Wisconsin Air National Guard. He ripped Evers Monday on Twitter and on Fox News for ordering Wisconsin troops to pull out of Arizona...

Free speech policy stirs controversy at University of Michigan

University of Michigan student Sydney Whack remembers the frustration she and other African-American students felt a year ago when the name tag outside the dorm room of one of her friends was vandalized with the N-word.

At the time, UM officials said the resident adviser handled the incident properly in West Quad by reporting it to university housing and diversity staff. In addition, community meetings were held with residents...

Organization names KU as one of the worst universities for free speech, cites removal of flag art, social media policy

The removal of an art installation featuring a modified American flag has made the University of Kansas one of the worst colleges or universities in the country for protecting the freedom of speech, according to a national advocacy organization.

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, also known as FIRE, on Tuesday put KU on its list of 10 institutions of higher learning that it says are the worst at protecting rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment...

New York fast-food workers’ payroll law survives free speech challenge

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a restaurant industry lawsuit challenging a New York City law requiring fast-food employers to send money that workers want deducted from their paychecks to nonprofits, including groups they might oppose...

CA Appeals Court Rules Soda Health Warning Label Violates Free Speech

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled Jan. 31 to block San Francisco's Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Warning Ordinance, requiring health warnings on advertisements for soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages. The American Beverage Association and other retail groups had sued to block the ordinance...

Comedian Ricky Gervais blasted political correctness and chastised his critics for painting him with a broad brush for advocating for what he calls "freedom of speech."

The 57-year-old creator of the U.K. version of “The Office” took to Twitter Wednesday to sound off on some left-leaning people who were quick to denounce him after controversial comments he made in the past...

Federal Judge Recognizes Free Speech for Cannabis Producer

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Jan. 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the first time in history, a Federal Court order has recognized the First Amendment protections guaranteed to producers of medical cannabis.

The 37-page ruling comes after Ultra Health, New Mexico’s #1 Cannabis Company, filed a complaint against New Mexico State Fair officials for unconstitutional attempts to limit Ultra Health’s rights to display a cannabis educational booth at the 2017 State Fair...

Rubio, Tlaib trade barbs over Israel, free speech

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) got into a heated exchange with freshman Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) over freedom of speech and a proposed bill to protect Israel from boycotts.

Rubio introduced a bill this week with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) that seeks to counter the "boycott, divestment, sanctions" (BDS) movement by allowing state and local government to boycott U.S. companies who engage in boycotts of Israel...

Former Breitbart editor and conservative media personality Ben Shapiro told a crowd at Ohio State on Tuesday night that government exists only to protect life, liberty and property, not to provide services such as housing and health care...